Lassen Cinder Cone — Attraction in Chester

As others have said, the views from the top are spectacular, so this trail is well worth the effort. The first bit of the trail is easy and mostly shaded, followed by a very steep climb up. My cardio fitness level is miserable, but I did it, taking my time and taking regular breaks. If you don't want your shoes full of cinder, hiking boots are advisable, but you can do it also in sneakers. Hiking poles help with support. If you have a bit of extra time, there is another trail going down the cone on the other side, which offers closer views of the Painted Dunes. Then it joins the bypass trail that you can use to get back to where you started. This hike was the highlight of our...

A mile and a half of easy trail, plus a half a mile of super hard trail, led to me laughing out loud as I crested the top of the cone. I knew it would be cool, but this exceeded my expectations. The trail up the cone is daunting, but totally worth it. Beautiful clear day in early November, 2018. No snow. The 2+ mile trail begins at Butte Lake, about 8 miles of gravel road off of Highway 44. Directions to Butte Lake are easier to find on Google Maps than directions to Cinder...

One of my favorite places I've been to. Easy hike to the base of Cinder Cone from Butte Lake Campground. The hike up Cinder Cone is challenging, like climbing a vertical sandbox. The views are spectacular and well worth the hike. From the top of Cinder Cone you can view the Painted Dunes and Lassen. Make sure to take the long way back down, there's a trail that is hard to find which winds its way down the backside with awesome views of the...